Anniversary: Rudi Basecke & Loretta Basecke

Jan. 29, 2013

Rudi and Loretta Basecke of Stockton, Missouri celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary, Thursday, January 17, 2013. They were married January 17, 1953, in Yuma, Arizona. Rudi, the son of a German immigrant, met Loretta, from California, in Dunnegan, Missouri, while she was visiting her grandparents. She returned to California and Rudi began service in the US Navy. While visting Loretta in California, on leave from Guam, Rudi and Loretta drove to Yuma, and while on their way, their car broke down. They were helped by a man driving a taxi cab. He then drove them to Yuma and they were married in a quaint chapel. They returned to California, and Rudi left for Guam again to continue his naval career. Following his time of service, they moved to Stockton, MO, where Rudi worked for his father in the cheese making business, a trade that he brought to the United States from his native Germany. After his father's retirement, he owned and operated the Stockton Cheese Plant (a.k.a. The Best Cheese by a Damsite) until his own retirement in 1985. He then worked for Hammons Products Co. in Stockton as Director of Trucking and Transportation until 1993.